Carriers
Use Carriers to store the companies that execute transportation work for your LSP operation.
A carrier can be an external vendor, a partner carrier, or an internal execution unit that your company wants to track as a carrier.
Before you start
Make sure that:
- the vendor exists if carrier invoices are posted to a vendor,
- default contact and address data is available,
- Freight Agreements are ready if carrier rates are maintained as contracts,
- map location and route data are ready if the carrier is used in route planning,
- default vehicle, driver, or logistic unit type records exist if you want them copied to Freight Orders.
How to create a carrier
- Search for Carriers.
- Choose New.
- Fill the carrier code and name.
- Link a vendor if the carrier is paid through purchase documents.
- Fill address, contact, and communication details.
- Fill operational defaults such as vehicle, driver, and unit type when used.
- Save the card.
Fields that matter most
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| No. / Code | Identifies the carrier in TMS documents. |
| Name | Appears in lists, reports, and user lookups. |
| Vendor No. | Connects carrier cost to Business Central purchase processing. |
| Pay-to Vendor | Supports cases where the invoice vendor differs from the executing carrier. |
| Default Vehicle / Driver | Speeds up Freight Order creation when the carrier uses known resources. |
| Blocked | Prevents users from using a carrier that should no longer be selected. |
Where carriers are used
| Area | Use |
|---|---|
| Freight Order | Defines who executes the transportation stage. |
| Settlement | Supports carrier cost and vendor invoice allocation. |
| Freight Agreements | Stores commercial terms and expected cost lines for the carrier. |
| Charges | Provides vendor context for purchase-related cost lines. |
| Reports | Prints carrier details on execution documents. |
| API | Exposes carrier data to portals and external planning systems. |
Good to know
- Blocking a carrier is safer than deleting it when the carrier already exists on historical documents.
- A carrier can be used without a vendor only when your process does not create vendor financial documents from that carrier.
- Use Freight Agreements when carrier rates or contract lines should be maintained separately from individual Freight Orders.
- Keep carrier names and vendor links clean. They are visible in settlement and reports.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Carrier is not available on a Freight Order | Check whether the carrier is blocked and whether user filters hide it. |
| Vendor cost cannot be created | Confirm the carrier has the correct vendor or pay-to vendor. |
| Carrier details are missing on a report | Review address, contact, vehicle, and driver fields on the carrier and Freight Order. |
| Wrong vendor receives the cost | Check pay-to vendor setup on the carrier and the Freight Order. |